Latest news with #Spanish-flagged
Euronews
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Foreign overfishing driving Senegalese migrants to Spain, report finds
"If I was able to gain enough money in fishing, I would never have come to Europe.' These are the words of Memedou Racine Seck, a Senegalese migrant and former fisherman. His experience underscores the findings of a new report that concludes that overfishing by foreign vessels is driving rising numbers of Senegalese to risk the world's deadliest migration route to Spain's Canary Islands. Seck told the non-profit Environmental Justice Foundation (EFJ), who authored the research, that 13 people died on board during his journey to Spain. Fishing is key to Senegal's economy, providing employment for some 3% of its workforce, and is central to the country's food security. But the livelihoods of small-scale Senegalese fishers face a growing threat from industrial fishing by foreign vessels which export most of their catch to markets in the EU and, increasingly, China. The report comes after two environmental NGOs, ClientEarth and Oceana, filed a lawsuit against the Spanish government last month accusing it of failing to investigate and sanction Spanish-flagged vessels suspected of illegal fishing practices off the coasts of Senegal and Guinea Bissau. The country's fish populations are threatened, the report found, citing modelling that suggests 57% of the species fished in Senegal are collapsing. It points to decades of overfishing by both industrial and small-scale fleets, as well as ballooning export volumes. Ships relying on bottom trawling, where vessels drag a weighted net across the ocean floor, are particularly damaging to marine ecosystems, and more than 90% of Senegal's industrial fishing fleet are bottom trawlers. The report concludes that overfishing and illegal fishing are depleting fish populations, exacerbating food insecurity and driving up poverty. In turn, this is pushing people to take their chances with the perilous crossing from West Africa to Spain's Canary Islands. The number of irregular migrant arrivals to Spain reached a record of 63,970 in 2024, according data from Spain's interior ministry — more than double the figure from 2022. The majority arrived in the Canary Islands, where arrivals soared by 200% between 2022 and 2024. Senegal is among the top three nationalities of arrivals to the islands. Rising numbers of people are attempting the journey, despite the route from West Africa to the Canary Islands being among the most dangerous crossings in the world. A total of 3,176 migrants are estimated to have died trying to cross from Senegal to the Canary Islands in 2023, according to the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras. In August 2023, a boat was discovered drifting off the coast of Cape Verde, having left Fass Boye, a coastal fishing community in Senegal, a month before. There were only 38 reported survivors among the 101 people on board. Modou Boye Seck, who lost his 'sons, nephews, and grandson in this tragedy', blamed Senegal's fishing crisis. He told the EFJ: 'No boats go to sea lately. And that's the difficulties the young people are dealing with, and it caused this tragic death upon them, and that's the most heartbreaking thing.' Karim Sall, President of AGIRE, a Senegalese organisation operating in the Joal-Fadiouth marine protected area, expressed his anger at the impact foreign overfishing was having on coastal communities. 'I get so angry when [foreign nations] complain about immigration because they are the real pirates and what they did is worse than clandestine immigration," he said. 'We are risking our life to go, but they come here to steal our fish. It's theft — plundering our resources to feed their own inhabitants while we suffer.' The report outlines key recommendations to the Senegalese government, the EU, and industrial fishing entities operating in Senegalese waters, to deal with the crisis facing Senegal's fisheries and cut the numbers making the crossings. It calls for more robust governance and transparency to support Senegal's fishing sector and the communities that rely on it. Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of the EFJ, stressed the myriad impacts of the crisis facing Senegal's fishing sector. 'Small-scale fishers face overwhelming competition from industrial vessels, leading to deteriorating living conditions, diminished food security, and lost livelihoods. The consequences are far-reaching, contributing to a troubling increase in migrant deaths at sea.' He urged the European authorities to 'end this now, and return Senegal's fisheries to the people of Senegal'.
Euronews
24-04-2025
- Business
- Euronews
‘Fishing in the dark': Spain accused of turning a blind eye to illegal fishing in West Africa
ADVERTISEMENT Two environmental NGOs, ClientEarth and Oceana, have filed a lawsuit against the Spanish government, alleging failures to investigate and sanction Spanish-flagged vessels suspected of illegal fishing in West African waters. The lawsuit, filed in Madrid, accuses Spanish authorities of neglecting their obligations under EU law by ignoring vessels that have repeatedly switched off their tracking systems while operating off the coasts of Senegal and Guinea Bissau. 'Fishing in the dark' At the heart of the legal challenge is the use of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). This tracking technology is mandatory for all boats over 15 metres in length and supports safety and transparency in the fishing industry. An analysis by the nonprofit Global Fishing Watch revealed that several Spanish-flagged vessels appeared to go dark for extended periods between 2020 and 2023. One boat allegedly switched off its AIS for more than a year during that period. 'What puzzles us is why these boats switch off their public identification signals, going 'dark' for such long periods,' Nils Courcy, a lawyer at ClientEarth, said in a statement. Related World Wildlife Day: Conservationists say green corridors can help animals thrive in Kenya India doubles tiger population in a decade: Can other countries learn from its conservation efforts? The NGOs argue that such activity could mask illicit practices that not only threaten marine biodiversity but also undermine economies and food security in one of the world's most heavily fished regions. 'This lack of transparency could be linked to fraud,' Courcy added. In 2023, the NGOs formally requested the Spanish authorities to investigate the AIS anomalies. They claim that Spain has refused to do so, prompting the legal action. Legal loopholes and global consequences When it comes to legal duties in the globalised fishing industry, the waters are murky. Spanish authorities claim they lack jurisdiction to act against citizens or companies operating outside EU waters, unless the vessels are blacklisted internationally. The NGOs argue that this position is at odds with EU law . 'EU law explicitly prohibits its citizens and companies from engaging or supporting illegal fishing anywhere in the world,' said Ignacio Fresco Vanzini, senior policy advisor at Oceana. 'If they do, Member States must identify and sanction them, regardless of whether these vessels are part of official blacklists.' Many Spanish companies establish joint ventures with local firms or reflag vessels to countries like Senegal or Guinea Bissau, allowing them to benefit economically from rich West African fishing zones while circumventing EU regulations. Although technically operating under local laws, such vessels are still owned by Spanish entities. Enforcement is an even more complex issue. International law places the responsibility for enforcement on coastal and flag states. But the NGOs believe that when those authorities fail to act, Spain must step in. Illegal fishing: a broader European problem The lawsuit comes amid increasing scrutiny of global fishing practices. ADVERTISEMENT In February 2025, several NGOs sued the French government over its failure to end bottom trawling in marine reserves, arguing that authorities had ignored damaging practices in protected areas. Senegal, meanwhile, was issued a 'yellow card' warning by the EU in 2024 due to its inability to control illegal fishing activities. Related 'Blood sport' or 'humane and quick'? Controversial whale slaughter begins in Faroe Islands Polar bear tracking tech breakthrough could boost conservation as climate heats up But some countries are upping their efforts to protect their natural habitats. Finland and Sweden joined forces in 2024 to crack down on illegal salmon fishing, while Portugal expanded its marine protected areas, giving it the largest such network in Europe. ADVERTISEMENT West Africa's coveted fish stocks The West African coast is one of the most productive fishing zones in the world, attracting fleets from China, Russia, Korea and the EU. Remarkably, Spanish vessels account for 73 per cent of the total of foreign industrial fleets that fish here. Through sustainable fisheries partnership agreements (SFPAs), EU vessels can legally fish for surplus stocks in exclusive economic zones in exchange for financial compensation. But these arrangements are now under strain. The EU's agreement with Senegal, which had allowed EU vessels to target tuna and hake, was not renewed after the country was issued a yellow card. Guinea Bissau's agreement remains intact, permitting EU vessels to fish for tuna , shrimp and cephalopods such as squid and octopus. But how sustainable it is remains unclear. Related 'A momentous day for nature': EU approves first-of-its-kind law that could bring back biodiversity Vietnam's ancient fish sauce making tradition is being threatened by warming seas and overfishing According to the International Organisation for Migration, income for small-scale West African fishers has decreased by an estimated 40 per cent in recent years. In Senegal, where fishing is indirectly responsible for more than half a million jobs, the fish catch has dwindled by 75 per cent in the last decade. ADVERTISEMENT With fish stocks disappearing, local communities are facing risks that range from food insecurity to job loss and forced migration. If ClientEarth and Oceana win their case, Spanish authorities could be compelled to investigate the large grey areas in fishing – and perhaps begin to address these issues.
